STEEL PANTHER is hoping to release new studio album in 2026
03-02-2025
In a new interview with Reality Check TV conducted on January 24 at this year’s NAMM convention in Anaheim, California, vocalist Michael Starr of California glam metal band STEEL PANTHER spoke about the band’s plans for the coming months.
He said: “We’re working on a new record right now. It should be out sometime next year. No nailed date, ’cause you can’t really put a timeline on creativity, and if you do, it sounds like it. So, we’ll wait until the songs are done and we’ll put it out. But we’re shooting hopefully for next year.”
Last month, STEEL PANTHER drummer Stix Zadinia told the “Iron City Rocks” podcast about the band’s upcoming seventh studio album: ”We’re always writing. I mean, it’s never a, ‘Okay guys. Let’s go write a record, let’s go record a record, let’s put it out.’ It’s a constant process. (STEEL PANTHER guitarist) Satchel does most of our writing, but we’re always sending ideas back and forth — lyric ideas, song ideas. And if Michael comes up with a riff or I come up with a riff, we throw it in the pot and see what happens. So it’s an evergreen process for us. And then when we feel like we have enough cool ideas, Satchel will demo some stuff up and then he’ll send it over to me. I’ll add my flavor. And then we send it to Michael and he adds his flavor. And then (STEEL PANTHER bassist) Spyder. And then we get to a point where the demos are really comprehensive. And then we go in, we track it, put a title on it and put it out. So I would say there are ideas floating around and we definitely would like to do another record at some point.”
Asked if he thinks STEEL PANTHER would have had the same staying power without songs that contain what some critics say are racist, misogynistic and lewd lyrics, Stix said: “No, there’s no way. I think that had we come out with lyrics that were, like, typical of a band in 1983 or in 1987, I don’t think it would have flown, because what we sing about, I think people latch on to the lyrics and I think lyrics matter.
“We’re in a really weird time, and I think when we put our first record out, the really weird time — and I use air quotes with that — was starting around then,” he explained. “But we had been grandfathered in because of what we had established since the ’90s. And the ’90s were not the really weird time as far as the political correctness. So we became this place for people to be able to come, have so much fun and not worry about offending people. And we just wrote songs that we wanted to write, and nothing was ever really intentional and it was all super from the heart. Now, I think an interesting question would be if we came out in 1985, how would we be viewed with the lyrics that we have? But I think it could have been insane ’cause I think our songs are just as good as, if not better than, most of the bands back then. And I know that might sound blasphemous, but if you don’t think that about your own band, then what are you doing in that band?”
Zadinia added: “I’m proud of that — I’m proud of not playing by the rules. And I’m proud of doing just what comes from the heart for us ’cause, ultimately, we get to keep playing these songs for people who wanna come see it, who listen to it, who may use it as a tool for that escapism. And I’m proud of that. I think it’s more satisfying than if we were being told what to do, what can go on a record. We are our true own bosses, and it’s awesome.”13-14 Jun: Finland – Lisää Löylyä Festival – TICKETS
13-15 Jun: Donington Park, UK – Download Fest – TICKETS
18 Jun: Dublin, IE – Vicar Street – TICKETS
21 Jun: Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser – TICKETS
23 Jun: Arnhem, NL – Musis – TICKETS
24 Jun: Cologne, DE – Essigfabrik – TICKETS
25 Jun: Dusseldorf, DE – Zakk – TICKETS
25-28 Jun: Oslo, Norway – Tons Of Rock Fest – TICKETS
29 Jun: Braunschweig, DE – Applaus Garten – TICKETS
30 Jun: Frankfurt, DE – Batschkapp – TICKETS
1 Jul: Bochum, DE – Matrix – TICKETS
2-6 Jul: Hungary – Rockmaraton Fest – TICKETS
4 Jul: Regensburg, DE – Eventhall Airport – TICKETS
5 Jul: Memmingen, DE – Kaminwerk – TICKETS
6 Jul: Geiselwind, DE – Music Hall – TICKETS
STEEL PANTHER’s latest release ‘On The Prowl‘ was released digitally and on CD, Cassette, and 2 different color variant records. Purple/Blue Marble is wide and Pink/Purple Marble will be a limited edition signed. All versions will be the entire 13 song album.
Tracklisting ‘On The Prowl’1) Never Too Late2) Friends With Benefits3) On Your Instagram4) Put My Money Where Your Mouth Is5) 19876) Teleporter7) Is My D**k Enough (feat. Dweezil Zappa)8) Magical Vagina9) All That And More10) One Pump Chump11) Pornstar12) Ain’t Dead Yet13) Sleeping On The Rollaway
Order ‘On The Prowl’ AT THIS LOCATION.
In early 2023, STEEL PANTHER singer Michael Starr spoke to the “Everblack” podcast about his relationship with the band’s original bassist Lexxi Foxx who left the band in July 2021. “I just talked to him today,” Michael said. “He’s doing good, man. He did exactly what he wanted to do. He started a family. He’s living in Chicago. Him and his wife just had a baby. So Lexxi Foxx is not gay. I thought he was gay this whole time. It’s so weird.”
Starr continued: “The party never stops. Just because he’s not on tour doesn’t mean he’s fucking having a good time. And we miss him. I fucking miss him. And we still stay in touch and talk. We talk just about every other day — just stay in touch with one another. I mean, we were together for 27 years, 26 years, and we know each other’s moms and dads and all of our cousins. We know everything about one another. So it’s been really, really sad not having him in the band, but I understand why he’s doing what he’s doing. And he was one of the smart guys — he saved up all his money. Not me — I’m still living at my mom’s. Let’s go.”
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